By Mary O’KEEFE

Once again Southern California will be dealing with rain. The first in the series of storms hit La Crescenta late Wednesday afternoon. The storm was predicted to bring a half an inch of rain with snow levels to 3,500 feet. There was little time to dry out before the next storm hits which is expected to drop an inch to an inch and a half of rain in the foothills between Thursday and Friday.

The third storm will enter Crescenta Valley area on Saturday. This storm is expected to drop one fourth of an inch of rain, said Stuart Seto, weather specialist.

“Sunday through Wednesday [will be] a gradual warming trend. By Tuesday and Wednesday we should see normal temperatures (75 degrees),” Seto said.

Last weekend’s rainstorm was relentless. On Friday the storm kept emergency responders busy. Three boulders rolled off the hillside in the 2400 block of Foothill Boulevard (at right) blocking access to the westbound number two lane. A few trees toppled over due to the soaking. On Chevy Chase Drive in La Cañada a tree crossed lanes blocking traffic.

“So far there is very little debris in the basins,” said Mike Kasper, spokesman for Los Angeles County Department of Public Works.

Although the rains brought streams of water racing down from the foothills there was little debris carried with it.

“We continue to be vigilant,” Kasper said. “We monitor our entire system.” Public Works oversees fragile hillsides from the beach at Malibu to the burn area of Crescenta Valley.

Kasper advised anyone who hears or sees something pertaining to debris flow to call public works at  211 or (800) 675-4357.

“We strongly recommend that they go to our C.A.R.E. website for information,” Kasper added.

The public works website is http://dpw.lacounty.gov/care.

  boulders, rain